Motor-starter.



I. 1. MAI IA.

MOTOR STARTER.

7 APPLICATION FILED NOV-9.19M.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

mm a. 1 w

9 4/. f I w 6 Q .Z.\\ 0 w i flaw J DWMa anal-nag UNITED srnrns PATNFFICE.

' ravine. MAHA, or wrcnrra mints, TEXAS.

MOTOR-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

Application filed iiovember 9, i917. Serial No. 201,093.

To all 'whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVIN J. MAHA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wichita Falls, in the county of Wichita and State of Texas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor- Starte'rs, of whichthe following. is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic startem for motors, and its primaryobject is to provide'a spring starter which is simple of constructionreliable and eflicient in action, and adapted. to be rewound orrenergized by the power of the motor itself.

A further object of the invention is to" provide clutchdevices of areliable and of ficient type "for connecting one portion of the starterspring with the motor shaft for rewinding action when necessary and forconnectinghanother portion of the motor 20 spring wit the motor shaftfor utilizing the power of said spring to start the motor.

The invention'consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebein had to the accompanying drawing, in w ich:--

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsed tion through the starter andcrank case of the motor, showing the starter in normal or verticalposition.

Fig. 2 IS a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

tionof the frame of the en inc of the Inachine or vehicle driven threby. In the present instance I have shown the starting mechanismarranged to transmit motion to the engine shaft in a counter-clockwisedirection but it is to be understood that, dependent upon circumstancesor conditions,

the starting mechanism may be arranged to transmit, starting motion tothe motor shaft in eithera clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction.

The starter comprises a spring starting motor, of the coiled or spiralspring type, the coiled motor spring 5 being arranged within aninclosing drum or--casi-ng comprising a pair of spaced disks 6 and 7,andanan'nular Referringto the drawing, i designates the wall 8 carriedby one of the disks, in the present instance the disk 7. The wall8projects from the peripheral edge of the disk '1 toward the peripheraledge of the disk 6 and carries an annular series of rollers 9 engaged aproper bearing for the outeredge of thedisk 6 is afforded and provisionmade to adapt said disks to have independent rotary motion while comingclose; together and forming an inclosing casing for the springb,

'by' the peripheral edge of the disk 6, where to shield and. protectsaid spring from liability of injury.

Thedisk 6 is provided with a hub or sleeve 10 projecting within thespring casing and towardthe disk 7. To this hub or sleeve 10, which isloosely mounted on the shaft section. 3, is secured the innerfend oi thesirin 5, thecnter end of which is suita ly i astened to the innerperiphery of the.

wall 8, and hence through said wallto the disk 7. The disk is looselymounted for rotation on the shaft section 3, and said disks 6 and 7 areheld in properly spaced relation by the sleeve 10, which holds them fromsliding motion toward each other, and b 'collars 11' and 12, whichrespectively h'ol said disks from outward relative sliding motion onsaid shaft section 3.

The disk 6 is employed for transmittingmotion frnm the motor shaft tothe spring for rewinding or retensioning said spring, while the disk '2is employed as a dr vmg element for transmitting motion from the springto the shaft for starting the motor into action. Formed upon theouterside of the disk 6 is a friction clutch member 13, having a beveled. ortaperedinternal frie tion face, adapted to be engaged by thecorresponding beveled friction face of an adjustahle clutch member ordisk 14, whereby the disk 6 may be connected withthe shaft fortransmitting motion thereto to rewind the spring and thereafterdisconnect it therefrom to allow said disk to be held stationary whilethe shaft revolves. The clutch member 14: is provided with a sleeve 15feathered to slide upon androtate with the shaft section 3, as shown M316, and said sleeve is angularly grooved to receive projections upon theforked end 17 of a bellcrank lever 18. This lever 18 is connected by arod 19 with any'suitable type of operating device for throwing theclutch member 14 into and ont oi action, a spring 20 also being providedto assist in throwing the tain it in retracted position. Formed upon theperiphery of the'clutch member 13 is an annular seriesof ratchet teeth21 for engagement with a pivoted dog or pawl 22. The dog or pawl 22 ispivoted to the frame piece 4; and provided with arms 23 on which actsprings 24 for normally holding the pawl in engaging position, whilepermitting it to ride over'the inclined surfaces of the ratchet teeth.The awl allows the disk 6 to be rotated by t e friction clutch members13 and 14 in one direction to wind u the motor spring 5, andautomatically 100 s the disk 6 from rotation in the opposite directionfor an obvious purpose.

The disk 7 is provided upon its outer face with a friction clutch member25, similar *to' 'the Iclutch member '13, and which is adapted to beengaged by a clutch member 26, of, similar construction to the clutch'member 14. Theclutch member 26 is provided with a sleeve 27 featheredto slide upon and rotate with the, shaft section 3, as shown at 28, andhaving suitable connection with the forked end 29 of a bell-crank lever30, whereby the disk 26 may be shifted into and out of engagement withthe disk 25. Connected with'the lever 30 is a rod 31' leading to asuitable type of operating device (not shown) whereby the. clutch member26 may be thrown into and out of engagement with the clutch member 25. Aspring 32, similar to the spring 20, is provided for'action uppn-thelever 30 to assist in retracting the clutch member 26 and to normallyserve to hold it in retracted position. When the clutch member 26 isthrown into engagement with the clutchmember 25, the disk 7 is fixed tothe shaft section 3 for rotation therewith, so that when said disk 7 isfree to revolve under the action of the spring 5 the power of the springwillbe u'tilized'for transmitting motion to the shaftsection 3 to startthe motor into action.

The disk 7 is normally held from motion in a motor starting direction bypawl andratchet mechanism comprising an annular series of ratchet teeth33, formed-upon the periphery of the clutch member 25, which ratchetteeth are adapted ,for engagement with a pawl 34 pivotally mounted uponthe frame piece 4, said pawl having arms 35 I connected with springs 36whereby the pawl is normally held in engagement with the shoulders oftheratchet teeth to-lock the disk 7 against movement in one direction,While permitting thepawl to-slide. freely over the ratchet teeth topermit rotary motiorr'of the disk 7 in the opposite direction. The pawlnormally holds the-disk 7 fixed against rotation by the action of thespring 5, so that the spring is normally maintained I m a rewound ortensioned condition. By,

however, throwing the pawl 34; out of em gagement with the ratchettoothfwith which it is engaged, it will be obvious that rotary motion ofthe disk 7 through the power ob tained from the uncoiling of the springwill be permitted, and that, in such action, when the clutch members 25and 26 are in engagement motion will be transmitted to the shaft section3 to start the motor. For the purpose of automatically retracting thepawl '34 when the clutch member 26. is thrown into action, the said pawlis provided with a beveled nose or projection 37 which lies in thepathof the beveled face of the clutch member 26, said clutch memberthusi'serv- "'ing to swing the pawl 34to a release posinormally holdsthe spring from rewinding motion, will permit the spring to unwind forrevolvingthe motorshaft to start the motor, the spring being lockedagainst further unwinding motion, after the startingof the motor, by theretraction of the clutch member 26,-which allows the pawl 34 toagainmove back to starting position. The spring may be of such size and poweras to be capable of starting the motor a number of times before itrequires to be rewound.

At any time when the engineis in motion it ,will be evident that thespring may be rewound' by simply throwing the clutch member 14 intoaction. Any suitable means'may be provided for indicating when thespring is fully wound, or this may be determined by the judgment of theoperator or feel of the operating device connected with the rod 19,since, as soon as the spring approachesa fully wound condition and itsresistance increases there Wlll be a tendency of the clutch member 14 tosl1p, the motion of which may be detected by the hand of the j operatorholding the control device.

Any

suitable or well known means may, however, be employed for automaticallythrowing the clutch member 1 1: out of action when the spring is fullyrewound.

My lnvention provides a simple, reliable and eflicient form ofspring'starter for the" motors of traction engines, automobiles and likemachines'or vehicles driven by internal combustion engmes, which starteris of a character which may be primed for opera-' startsthe motor inapositive'and reliable .tion at intervals by the power of the runningmotor and may be thrown into action to any suitable point alongthelength'of the motorshaft, according to the arrangement 'of the motorupon the machme or vehicle.

In practice a suitable tool or clutch lever may be employedforengagement with the ratchet teeth 21 of clutch member 13 for thepurpose of nntlally winding up the spring 5 or at other timesmanuallywinding it up 'when'desired or required. Also a pawl and ratchetmechanism of ordinary type may be employed in connection with the sleeve27 of clutch member if), to hold said clutch member from retrograderotation, to obviate liability. of damage-to'the starter mechanism intheerent of the engine backfir ng. i

Having thus fully described my invent ton.

I.claim:

v 1. In a motor starter, the combination of an engine shaft. a ,pair ofspaced disks loosely mounted on said shaft. 'a coiled power spring fixedat its ends to the respective disks, (;1pawl and ratchet devices forholding each Sfk,--against motion in one directitm while permitting itto have motion in the opposite d'trt' ctioiha clutch device forconnectiri'g ma of said disks ,with the shaft for communicating motionfrom the shaft to wind up thespring. and a clutch device for connectingthe other disk with 'the. shaft. the holding pawl associated with saiddisk having a cam which lies in the path of-shifting movement of saidclutch device. whereby the said holding pawl may be retracted andthedisk simultaneously coupled to the shaft for transmitting power fromthe spring. to

the shaft for a motor starting-:ution.

Zyln a-motor starter, the eom'lnmttlon of an engine shaft, apalr ofspaced disks loosely mounted on said shaft. oneof said disks having ahub and the other an annular wall. and said disks collectively formingan int-losing casing; a spiral power spring inclosed within said casingand fixed respectll'tl) at ltsopposite ends to said sleeve and having acentral hub and the 'other a.

laterally projecting peripheral wall. said. parts taalpera'ti elyforming -a casing. a coiled spring inclosetl within said casing andrespectively.connected at its ends with said sleeuealul peripheral wall.friction clutch members upon the outer faces-of said disks, said clutchmembers being provided with ratchet teeth. locking dogs mounted upon a.

stationary part of the frameto engage the ratchet teeth of the disks. asliding friction clut h member on the sha ft for engagement with one ofsaid clutch members. and a sliding friction clutch upon the shaft forengag ing the other clutch member and simultaneousl-y contacting thecoacting pawl-to throw the same outof locking position.

in testimony '.llcreof l allix my signature.

